Fat/Fit

AC Milan’s David Beckham changes shorts during a Serie A soccer match between Juventus and AC Milan, at the Olympic stadium in Turin, Italy, Sunday, 011010

From left to right: Kevin Dillon in February of 2009; Kevin Dillon in January 8, 2010.

Hugh Grant Nov. 9, 2004 Dec. 5, 2009

Sean Combs Aug. 19, 2009 and Dec. 9, 2009

Gerard Butler Oct. 16, 2009 and Jan. 3, 2010

Brad Pitt Sept. 18, 2009 and Jan. 6, 2010

Is weight solely a worry for women? Can a man be sexy today and still sport a roll? Are Hollywood’s leading men given more of a free ride with flab than their female counterparts?

These are the big questions as a number of A-List men have “let themselves go” lately? Angelina Jolie may be shrinking away, but the usually toned Brad Pitt was spotted this week looking like he was eating for two. It looks like Brad gained about 15 lbs, which makes his current weight somewhere between 175 and 180 lbs now. Gerard Butler, who was all lean muscle mass as the action star of 300, admitted he has a weakness for “cupcakes” after he his over-sized paunch was photographed on a beach vacation in Barbados on Jan. 3.

Then there’s the formerly slim, former heartthrob Hugh Grant, who appeared shockingly larger on the red carpet this month — and even the previously fat-free P. Diddy has doubled up his size.

Will getting bigger burn these guys careers like they would a woman’s?

No way, celebrity image consultant Michael Sands tells HollywoodLife.com. “They probably need to get back in the gym, but no matter what, these guys will be accepted,” he says. “It won’t hurt them drastically at all.” In fact, he says that a little bit of paunch will actually endear Brad & Gerard & co. to their fans.

“Moviegoers like to see ‘hey, they really are norma!’” when they see photos of these guys in real life.
Sands says that the celebrity males tend to gain weight when they’re in between movies. “If they aren’t working, they don’t care. They got caught look au natural. So what? The pictures of them looking heavier won’t hurt their careers. Ultimately, it won’t make a difference in Brad or Gerard’s careers if they put on some extra weight. They still have the same faces.

But for actresses like Angelina, who has been looking way too thin lately, there’s a double standard. “For women, it’s not the same,” Michael says. “If a girl puts on some weight, she won’t get any roles whatsoever. It’s not suitable for an audience’s palette.”

So unfair!!!

What do YOU think? Does a pair of toned pecs and a flat belly make a hunk or can “beefcake” just mean more to love. Tell us now + VOTE!